The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1887-09-16
Friday, Sept. l6, 1887.
A Higher Standard.

All over the State and all over the
nation higher standard is being de-
manded for public men, especially in
legislative halls. Party politics has run
down the quality of representation
especially 50 in the large cities-till our
legislative and congressional halls have
come to be by word of reproach. Pro
fessional politicians make use of their
law-making bodies to serve their own
selfish ends, and the more effectually
to secure this object they have syste-
matically corrupted these fountains OF
law and government. Men of integrity
and ability have been pushed aside and
purposely disgraced in order to keep
them "out of politics" so that pill
able and ignorant tools may fill the
halls of legislation and through such
men the bosses get in their public rob.
berry and political demoralising work.
'.Stick to the party has been favorite
watch word to whip men into electing
incompetent officers who in turn have
become the tools of the professional
politician. There is arising rebellion
against this system, and the oppor-
tunity for ambitious young men pre-
sents itself. Competent men to man
age public affairs is the need of the
hour; and young men who will qualify
themselves for state business will find
a bright and honorable career before
them. This is particularly true among
the agricultural class, and the young
men who qualify themselves to cham
pion the farmers cause will in future
not lack political support and backing.
The day we trust is past when the
vicious and ignorant element. led by
crafty designing men can dictate with
almost impunity, the tickets of both
parties, while the better element, in
finitely above them in all things worth
living for stands passiyely and submis
sively aside, and by allowing them
selves to be nearly equally divided, be-
tween the parties, by the manipulation
of bosses and the crack of their whip,
while the managers with their
makeweight element, the ignorant and
vicious classes, at the ballot bcX shape
legislation to suit themselves.
Young men will not qualify them
selves to represent this better element
of society by frittering away their time
reading novels, mere newspaper gossip
and base ball games. but by studying the
history of the government, state and
national, and becoming familiar with
thegreat party questions and their rela.
ton to government, by reading the
speeches of our statesmen. The rise,
progress. discussion and settlement OF
these questions form a most interesting
study and young men will find their
minds broadened and elevated by this
class of reading which will lead them
to explore other fields of political
knowledge, and fit their minds to grasp
and analyze new questions in political
economy which are looming up on
every hand. The questions of the past
which called to their solution the
giants in thought and discussion are
but pigmies compared to those which
the nation is approaching, and which
demand men of cultivated intellects to
handle, and properly dispose of. Let
the young men who aspire to political
distinction qualify themselves for the
trust and they will find following
that will enable them to over throw
the barbarian hosts of ignorance and
vice led by the bosses, and which have
for years been plundering the industry
of the country through the avenues Of
government. state and municipal, as
the Cloths plundered the plains of Italy
when Rome began to decline through
her plutocracy and political vassalage
Our party political vassalage is little
above that of Rome in the days proceed
ing her decline.